United States v. Helstoski

Summary

The Court held that the Speech or Debate Clause bars the Government from introducing evidence of a Member’s past legislative acts in a prosecution for accepting bribes, although promises to perform future legislative acts may be proved. It also held that any waiver of the Clause must be explicit and unequivocal, and that the bribery statute did not constitute a congressional waiver. The Court affirmed the interlocutory evidentiary ruling, while Justice Stevens, joined by Justice Stewart, would have permitted evidence referring incidentally to past legislative acts, and Justice Brennan would have dismissed the indictment.